The last few days have gone by in a blur. It was a little over a week ago when M called to say her dad had suffered a massive stroke. The next day, I went up to San Francisco to visit him in the hospital. I ended up spending four days with M and her family as they kept a bedside vigil. Early Sunday morning, with his wife and children around him, he passed away.

This past week has given me pause as I prepare to spend a bit of time with my own folks. I find myself more eager than ever to be with them, to cherish them, and to make a few more happy memories with them while I'm still blessed to have them in my life.

This Christmas won't be the happiest one M and I share, but I'm viewing this as an opportunity to make next year's holidays a blast, just to reestablish this time of year as a merry time.